So, I have wanted to get a salmon on my fishing rod for the last few months that I have been here in Alaska and have not even had the chance to put a lure on my pole because I didn't own a pole. I took a large step in the right direction by purchasing a pole, for $36 at the Trustworthy in Soldotna, AK. I then took my newly purchased rod with my reel and lures (as I was informed by a store clerk at Sportsman Warehouse in Anchorage the night prior) to snare a Red Salmon. I put my line into the Kenai River, just near Soldotna, AK on the Kenai Peninsula with all intentions of impressing everyone, even myself. Guess what?! I didn't catch anything, hardly a cold, as it was a glorious, sunny day in Soldotna and on the Kenai River.
After a bit of time on the river and tangles in my line, I departed (after 4 hours on river) and made my way back up the Sterling Highway through the Kenai Peninsula, past Kenai Lake to the south trail head of Resurrection Pass.
Resurrection Pass is one of the most popular trails to hike in Alaska, especially on the Kenai Peninsula, so I expected that there would be a ton of people at the south trail head. I was surprised to find a few cars, but no people once I got on the trail. So, I rode my Kona 4 bike up the trail, which was a consistent incline for the first couple miles, but then eventually there was some up and down. It has been raining for the last few days around the area so I found that as I got deeper into the trail that there was more and more water and puddles. I ended up pretty much covered head to toe in water and mud, but it was a great ride. I think I went about 8 miles in, just before Juneau Lake (which is amazing I have heard) then it started to rain, so I turned around. It took me about 1/2 the time to bike out as it did to bike in, as the hills were gnarly and I fell 2 or 3 times on the way back. Nothing ridiculous in the falls, well, I guess one time I took a solid header into these bushes, but that is going to happen. I almost fell off a cliff come to think of it, but I clipped out before I had a chance to really hurt myself. Besides constantly avoiding giant puddles and the odd cliff, I tried to steer around the huge piles of Brown Bear crap. That was the one thing that I was nervous about, because if I am riding down a hill, on my own at 20 miles/hour and a bear jumps out to say hello, I am not going to have enough time to do anything except be eaten.
But that didn't happen. And I'm still alive, which is super, because that was my best ride in AK thus far. Winner Creek story almost did end my life, but that is what is going to happen if you are in Alaska. I have to say that I would be disappointed if I woke up dead, but I am sure that it would be a sweet way that I die if I am in Alaska. But I'm not expecting that to happen for the next few years at least.
Here's a photo of me doing some kayaking in the Prince William Sound a few weeks ago, was a fun time. I thought that I would share it with you all, as it's one of the last photos that I took with my camera.
